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  Image via Flickr by Paxton Holley   If you’ve been using social media sites at all during the month of October, you’ve undoubtedly come across promotions from all the big retailers. Target and Wal-Mart are running Halloween-themed contests, Party City is posting coupons and all the big sellers are joining in on the fray. How can you use their strategies to boost your own traffic and sell yourself more successfully?    Encouraging Debate Image via Flickr by betherann   Wal-Mart created a big stir on their Facebook page by pitting various candies against each other in mock contests. The...

  Writing isn’t something you’re just born with. Wait, let me rephrase that; some people may be gifted writers and yes, they were probably born that way. However, that is not the case with everyone—most talented writers today had to start somewhere.   Writing is not for everyone, most people don’t like to write. But, if you are in the writing industry, here are some techniques that can help you produce better writing.    1. Be a People Watcher Image via Flickr by redwine13   My Fiction 101 teacher told me that in order to get inspiration for storytelling ideas...

Flyer via NaNoWriMo.org   As we are quickly coming to the end of year, I have a question for all you writers out there. Have you started thinking about your next novel? It doesn’t matter if this is your first, fifth, or 100th book; what matters is that you are thinking about it. And since November is NaNoWriMo (or National Novel Writing Month), it is the perfect time to get your mind on the pages.   What is NaNoWriMo? Image via Flickr by Smittenkittenorig   It is a time to start the creative process. If you have ever wanted to...

  Image via Flickr by B. Garry   There may come a time when an individual or company decides that a website is necessary to aid in the mission of establishing their online presence. A website is like your very own piece of Internet real estate. Your central office—the headquarters people can visit to learn more about your products, services, or whatever message you have to share. However, unless you have your own IT infrastructure, complete with server hardware, server software, and premium bandwidth, you’re going to need some help.    Enter the Web Hosting Arena  Image via Flickr by...

  When I went wandering the streets of Galway, Ireland, I did so with the express purpose of taking the wrong roads. By the end of the night, I'd watched zombies dance, helped promote a local tattoo artist, danced five miles, faced bomb threats, and learned a hell of a lot about storytelling. Storytelling isn't about taking the right roads. In my years of freelance writing, I've become accustomed to the traditional "essayism" of the modern blog entry: You start with a short hook that pitches reader value, break up your content into digestible sub-headings, and conclude by reminding your...

    Image via Flickr by RadarDDBuk   There’s no escaping the social media craze, and like it or not you’ve got to use it for self-promotion. Blogs should be very social media-friendly and you should be promoting your stuff on social media every day. It’s time-consuming, but there are lots of little tricks that make it a whole lot easier.    Linking Up Image via Flickr by Ayadipro-Marketing   Mostly all people use social media. Twitter, Facebook, Google and Pinterest are among the most popular sites in the world. If people are going to be using social media anyway,...

    Image via Flickr by ╬ CoƒƒiN ╬   October is the month of scary things, and there is very little that’s scarier than trying to tackle writing a horror story. Do you want to write a story that brings your readers to tears? Are you trying to shock yourself with the intricate plot? Creating a good horror story is a delicate art. It requires dedication, education, and as with all writing, perspiration. So, what do you need to write a good horror story?   Atmosphere Image Via Flickr by Ankher   We all know that the purpose of...

  Do you want to get more traffic to your online writing site? Maybe you’re clueless as to how to get more readers and clients to your blog. Most readers will stay with a blog so long as the topics and articles are helpful, tasteful and relative to them. Marketing plays a big part in growing your readership. Take a crack at these five ideas to get more readers and traffic to your site.   1.  eBay Image via Flickr by LiewCF   You may not think of eBay as being a place to sell your writing. Think again. While...

Image via Flickr by bilgikolik   Building an audience for your blog isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight. It necessitates a commitment to time and quality, because good content will ensnare more readers. But there are some tricks you can use to bring more of your audience to you, and speed up the process of audience-building.    Social Media Marketing Image via Flickr by GuestBlogIt   Optimize your blog for social media, and you’re making it a lot easier for your existing audience to recruit new readers for you. Daily social media marketing will help you constantly work toward...

  Do you have an empty blog you'd like to fill up with guest posts? By following some simple steps, you can start recruiting authors and bloggers to write guest posts for your blog. Not only will this save you time from blogging, but it will help give your blog a fresh look and bring in more readers.   Image via Flickr by seosmarty   Finding Guest Bloggers Image via Flickr by GuestBlogIt   Finding guest bloggers may be as simple as looking through your Facebook or email contacts. If you are in touch with people who share your interests,...

Image via Flickr by Bubblechunk    Let's talk about fluff. I'm not talking about the Care Bear collection I had when I was a kid, though I will mention it as an excuse to write "real men are down to cuddle."    When I talk about fluff, I'm talking about when an editor sends back something you've written and says, "There's too much fluff here. Trim it down." There's a massive gray area surrounding this mystery matter called fluff, and I think it's time that everyone got some clarity about it.   First Words on Fluff Image via Flickr by...

  Image via Flickr by rdouglas2012   Women ask me all the time if they really can be a successful writer while raising children. After all, a writer’s life is one of solitude and quiet – pretty much the polar opposite of the life of a mom. But the answer is still a resounding yes!    You’re Doing This for All of You  Image via Flickr by familymwr    I can’t think of a single better way to set a good example for our kids than to allow them to watch as we fulfill our own dreams and meet all...

  Have you ever wished that you could simply abandon everything and run to the other side of the planet? In May of this year, that's precisely what I did. This bout of insanity wasn't done on Daddy's dime or earned through years of wisely conserving money. Rather, I've been able to support my life on the run through freelance writing. Today, I'm going to tell you how. The Easy Answer Original photo: Taken while writing this article.   How do I travel the world through freelancing? The simple answer is this: My laptop (his name's Journey) lets me tap...

  Pinterest is becoming one of the most widely visited social websites across the world. More than 18 million people visit the site on a monthly basis, which means that there are plenty of eyes viewing all types of content. This social media platform typically ranks third, behind Facebook and Twitter, but offers a unique spin on the traditional style of social media.   What Is Pinterest? Image via Flickr by methodshop.com   Pinterest allows users to create boards, neatly categorized, which contain links to favorite items, recipes, blogs, articles, and just about anything else that is available on the...

  Everyone in this industry has a story that differs from the one before. Mine, like many others, took its start at the commencement of my college years and landed me here, where I will share with you my journey into the writing world and how you can jump start yours too!  What You Can Do: Get Passionate!   Image via Flickr by {Sarah Elizabeth}*   How do you get your foot into the copywriting world? The simplest advice?  Write as much as you can on anything and everything that interests you. Every kind of writing counts—academic papers, blogging, Yelp...

  Image via Flickr by codeandcoffee    “Supernatural scribing,” otherwise known as ghostwriting, is a great way for a writer to make good money. With so many people writing blogs and selling products online, this form of authoring has exploded. It is no longer just a thing of the physical (copy) world. When deciding to become a ghostwriter, consider the following pros and cons.   Pro – Get Paid to Write Image via Flickr by Don Hankins    This is a fairly obvious pro. When you work, you get paid, and if your job is being a ghostwriter, your work...

    Image via Flickr by matt.searles       If you want to get more traffic to your blog, you’ve got to optimize them for search engines. However, if you want readers to enjoy your writing and find real value in it, you can’t just add a lot of overt SEO (search engine optimization). There’s a fine line between SEO and readability. Learn tricks that will help you optimize your writing without ruining it for your audience.    Keyword Density Image via Flickr by DXPINFOTECH     Keyword density refers to the number of times your keyword phrases appear...

  I've published nine poems in mainstream literary journals and even won some awards. That said, I've made a grand total of $50 off my poetry. However, my time in the trenches—writing, performing, and studying poetry—has helped me improve my craft in a number of other sectors. Here are some lessons I've learned on using lyric elements to make your copy more interesting, memorable, and palatable.   Alliteration and Assonance: Luxurious Lilts of Language Image via Flickr by avlxyz   Alliteration is one of the easiest lyric elements to recognize: It's simply a sequence of similar consonant sounds. Assonance, meanwhile,...

  It’s easy to get followers for your website, blog, or newsletter. But, to maintain them and keep their attention is another story. You can’t just submit any kind of content and expect them to like everything you post. Your content has to be compelling, interesting, and you have to promote it properly on your social media channels.    Image via Flickr by sdicks2009   People respond better to you and your content when you give them something they can use. Social media treats don’t have to be anything physical (although, that doesn’t hurt either). These treats can be a free...